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Lord Harcourt inclined his head, ever so slightly, but Colin knew what it was. Permission, if not approval, surrendering in this fight he had waged to keep them apart.

“I know you have made your choice, Lily,” he said. “I will not stop you. I am unsure if I am making the right decision, but I would prefer that you remain in my life, and I know the only way to ensure that happens is to accept this young man.”

Colin and Lily looked at one another in surprise before returning their attention to Lord Harcourt.

“Thank you, Father,” Lily said softly, her voice just above a whisper.

“You might not be who I would have chosen for my daughter,” Lord Harcourt said, fixing his stare on Colin. “But you have proven your worth.”

It was more than Colin would have thought possible, and he had to blink a few times to make sure that this moment was real.

“I would obviously prefer that my daughter’s husband is able to support her,” he said, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. “I have two things for you. Lily tells me that you were training to be a solicitor until you were forced to leave to care for your family.”

“I was.”

“I will support you while you finish your education. I would prefer my son-in-law have a profession and not only work in my mill.”

“Thank you, Lord Harcourt. I do appreciate that, and yet, I wouldn’t feel right about leaving the mill. There are improvements I would like to make, that I want to talk to you about. People that I feel a responsibility to look after.”

Lord Harcourt uncrossed his arms them refolded them over his chest and stared at him.

“How do you expect to make changes?”

“I was going to speak to you about it. Advocate for the people.”

“Would not the best way to do that be as a solicitor?”

Colin hesitated. Lord Harcourt was right. If he had the profession, he could better represent those who couldn’t speak for themselves. It was all he had ever wanted and yet?—

“Do not let your pride get in the way,” Lord Harcourt said, reading his thoughts. “We will be family soon, and family helps one another.”

Colin looked at Lily and her expectant face, reminding him that he would do anything to make her happy.

“I—I am not sure what to say,” he finally managed.

“Say thank you,” Lord Harcourt instructed.

“I cannot make any promises regarding the mill. It needs to be profitable, and yet, if you have suggestions for changes that could help everyone be better off, I am open to them. But that is a discussion for another day. Now, while we are at it, I have a wedding present for you, Lily.”

“That is not necessary—” she began, but he held up a hand to stop her.

“You are my only daughter. This was always to be yours, you just never knew about it. This property has a house at the other end of the drive. It is to be a dower house, but it is yours to live in.”

“A house?” Lily said.

“Yes,” Lord Harcourt said, giving her a document, and Colin realized then that he had prepared all of this ahead of time, having already made his position clear.

“Now, speak to your mother about the wedding, but do it quickly. You’ve made a spectacle of yourselves in front of half of Manchester, so it is best to have this done. ”

“Of course, Father,” Lily said, practically tugging Colin from the room before he had a chance to say anything else, but he figured there was time enough to speak to Lord Harcourt again.

He was in a daze over all that had occurred, so much so that he allowed Lily to lead him from the study and shut the door behind them.

Incredulity bubbled up just beneath the surface as they stared at one another, both breathless and amazed.

“Colin,” she said, her voice soft, threaded with joy. “You do not know him as well as I do, so you might not understand that was approval in there. He likes you.”

Colin let out a laugh as he and Lily walked out of the house, and he soon realized their destination was the gazebo. “I don’t want to think about what disapproval would look like. I thought he might turn me to dust on the spot.” He reached for her hand. “But you were right. He saw reason.”

She stepped closer, the warmth of her presence banishing every doubt, every fear that kept them apart for so long. “Montgomery lost. His name is on the tongue of every gossip in town. You will be playing for the championship. And?—"

"And I've found you," Colin finished, lifting her hand to his lips as they stepped onto the gazebo platform, marveling at the turn of fortune that had brought him here.

They took a seat on the bench and spoke of the future, the words flowing easily, full of promise and plans. Each one unfurled a new possibility of a life even better than they had ever imagined.

"I will never let you down," Colin vowed, holding her gaze, all the love he held for her radiating toward her. "Not ever."

Lily smiled, filling the corners of his heart. "I know," she said simply. “This is just the start of a life better than any I could imagine.”

Their lips met again, and the two worlds that had once felt so far apart came hurtling together, merging into one that wouldn’t be easy, but would be worth every moment.